Our foremothers knew how to make a quilt using only what they had, from scraps of fabric to natural dyes. But, quilt making the frugal and eco-friendly way was easier for them: they didn’t have much of a choice. Pioneer women didn’t have fabric stores, and even our own mothers didn’t have the internet offering fabrics, thread, and surface design supplies available at the click of a button. In this piece, Lisa Kerpoe shows how to make a quilt from dyed fabrics using a rice cereal resist. Lisa wrote a series of articles on kitchen resists for Quilting Arts in 2011 That’s ..read more

The theme for the Quilting Arts Magazine Spring 2024 issue is ‘Exquisite Artistry in Fabric and Thread’ and you will find the pages brimming with just that, mixed in with large portions of color, texture, and artistic innovation. From block printing to photography, appliqué, free-motion thread work, and more, we hope you’ll find a technique or two that sparks your interest. The Touch Up by Wendi Flaherty graces the cover of the Spring 2024 issue. Subscribe to Quilting Arts Magazine for more great patterns, inspiration, projects, and articles like this one! Subscribe Check Out Ou ..read more

The theme for the Quilting Arts Magazine Spring 2024 issue is ‘Exquisite Artistry in Fabric and Thread’ and you will find the pages brimming with just that, mixed in with large portions of color, texture, and artistic innovation. From block printing to photography, appliqué, free-motion thread work, and more, we hope you’ll find a technique or two that sparks your interest. The Touch Up by Wendi Flaherty graces the cover of the Spring 2024 issue. Subscribe to Quilting Arts Magazine for more great patterns, inspiration, projects, and articles like this one! Subscribe Check Out Ou ..read more

Landscapes are one of my favorite sources of inspiration for my art. Beauty is everywhere — I encourage you to take a few moments to view the world around you. Reflect on the colors, shapes, and textures in your neighborhood. I live in northern Wisconsin where millennia ago glaciers dumped huge boulders, carving out today’s rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Tall timbers dominate rolling hillsides nestled alongside waterways and bog areas. I cannot help being drawn to using inspiration from nature in my artwork. So, with that in mind, I’m sharing a quick tutorial on how to make layered wool landsc ..read more

There are those among us who make personal sacrifices, who forgo comfort and safety, while striving to make the world a better place. They are persistent and dogged in their determination to lift, to save, to shed light, and to inspire. People who are the helpers, the speakers, the ones who act. They soldier on in spite of persecution or personal risk. And they seek to help one lone person or the entire planet. They represent the very best of humanity. This juried invitational exhibit of 40 quilts honors these women and men. The folks who are on a mission to quilt a better world. Curated and ..read more

We are sew excited to share this fun tutorial on how to make easy mixed-media hearts with free-motion quilting! This is a great way to practice your free-motion stitching skills and add a mixed-media element to your machine quilting. In honor of Valentine’s Day, it’s heart art from our sister publication, Cloth Paper Scissors, one of my favorite sources of fiber art inspiration. The tutorial for these quiltlets is by Joanne Sharpe, a mixed-media artist who specializes in brightly colored lettering and art journal art. Materials For this project you will need: ✓ Muslin, 2 pieces, cut to ..read more

Most serious art quilters, at some point in their careers, take time to evaluate their goals and clarify their vision. Some are focused on creating a body of work that is shown in galleries or hung in museums among paintings and sculptures. Others aim to win prizes at quilt shows or have their work featured in major publications. Still more wish to hone their skills and share their expertise on the teaching or lecture circuit. Clara Nartey sees the value in all those goals but doesn’t stop there. Her vision is to create a body of work that documents our current culture and leaves a legacy for ..read more

We are sew excited to share this fun tutorial on how to make easy mixed-media hearts with free-motion quilting! This is a great way to practice your free-motion stitching skills and add a mixed-media element to your machine quilting. In honor of Valentine’s Day, it’s heart art from our sister publication, Cloth Paper Scissors, one of my favorite sources of fiber art inspiration. The tutorial for these quiltlets is by Joanne Sharpe, a mixed-media artist who specializes in brightly colored lettering and art journal art. Materials For this project you will need: ✓ Muslin, 2 pieces, cut to ..read more

When I think of hearts, I immediately think of Beryl Taylor. And not just because she’s such a sweet, warm-hearted person! After the fleur-de-lis, the heart is the motif I most associate with Beryl’s mixed-media art. She punches them, paints them, stitches and beads them, and makes puffy heart embellishments out of silk, felt, batting, and cardstock. And luckily for you, we’re sharing a quick and easy tutorial on how to make easy silk heart tags with Beryl Taylor herself! With Valentine’s Day less than a month away, I asked Beryl to share an easy yet heartfelt project with you, using her “Lay ..read more

It’s hard to believe that Valentine’s Day is already here! I don’t know about you, but it feels like I just finished putting my Christmas decorations back into storage and am finally recovering from the anxiety of finishing my handmade gifts. So, in case the holiday snuck up on you like it did on me, I’ve pulled together a few free patterns you’re sure to love. An added bonus? Each pattern comes with a quick and easy tutorial — learning how to make handmade Valentines has never been easier! Easy Mixed-Media Hearts with Free-Motion Quilting Practice your free-motion quilting as you create quil ..read more